Electric switch



G. B.. THOMAS. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATIONl FILED .].'AN.1.5, I9YI6.

1,347,308. Patented Jmyz, 1920 Y//L/I/l/ i Si m UNrriali 'sraT-l-:S'PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. THOMAS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR To THE PERKINSlELECTRIC :SWITCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, CUT, A CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT.

OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTI- ELE'CTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd yJuly 20, 1920.

Application ineav January' 15, 191e. serial No. 72,324.

anisut by which a plurality of circuits may.

Vbe'simultaneously or individually controlled.

29 tion of the switch-operating mechanism;

Jaa-the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a\ broken side eleva ion of a switch in which my inventionis mbodied vinone forni;

Fig. 2 is a section on the :line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on theline 3 -3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 1s a detached :perspectlve of porand Fig r5lis a diagram of One'wiring system' for the switch.

The present switchV is particularly designed for controlling aplurality' of circuits, such as lighting circuits in residences or thelike where it is desired to switch o'n or 'oit any one or more of aplurality of different groups of lamps in a single room or hall.

correlated switclr'mechanisms mounted within a single Vswitch base andof a size' and construction such that it maybe arranged withinA a singlegang outlet box of standard construction. j l

In the form here shown, the device 'comprises a cup-shaped insulatingbody 10, the open top of which is spanned by a yoke piece 11 by means Otwhich theswitchvbody may be mounted within an outlet box in 'wellunderstood manner. At its four upper As a' compact and efficient devicefor this purpose,-I provide a plurality of the lead from the main visattached. The other contact 24 is connected to the wire terminal 19 by astrap 25 let into the' lower face of the insulating body and extendingbetween the terminal 24 and the base of the wire termina-l 19, beingrespectively connected to these terminals by the screw bolts 26 and 27piercing the bottom of the recep- Within this, chamber 20 is alsomounted a suitable switch mechanism of the lsingle pole type comprisinga`switch blade 28 adapted to span the switch terminals 23 and 24 and makeor break thecircuit be tween the latter. l I

Vithin the other switch chamber 21 are arranged several switch terminals29,730, 31, and 32, the last two terminals constituting a bow-shapedstrap presenting the terminals 31 and 32. at different levels intheswitch chamber. Itis connected to the wire terminal 17 a strap 33 letinto the lower face of the' bottomot the receptacle and extendingbetween the switch terminal and the wire terminal'17 to which it isrespectively connected by the screw bolts 34 and 35. The switch terminal30 comprises the Offset 4lower end of the strap which forms the base forthe wire terminal 18. Terminal 29 is integralwith the base of theterminal l24- and thus leads 'the current from switch chamber 20 toswitch chamber 21 when the switchblade 28, in the chamber 20, spans theswitch terminals 23 and 24.

Within the switch chamber 21 is arranged a switch having a 'pluralityfofswitch blades 36 and 37 lying respectively at the levels of theterminals 31 and 32, but electrically connected together. It is obviousthatvwhen the switch blade 28 is on, current is led through the terminal24 to the wire terminal 19, thus closing the circuit through lamp groupconnected to the latter. It it is desired to bring into circuit thesecond lamp group connected tothe terminal 18, the switch in chamber 21is moved to the position which follows that shown in Fig. 2, so that theterminals 29 and 30 are spannedbythe switch blade 37. In this positionthe switch I v` in which it overlies the terminal 30 and is out ofcontact therewith, while the circuit is established between lthe lowercontact 32, on the one hand, and the switch terminal 29, on the otherhand', by the switch blade 37. The succeeding position ot the switch isthat shown in Fig. 2 in which the current is entirely cut oil from thcswitch now by reason of the fact that the blade 36 overlies the terminal29 and is out oiicontact therewith, thus leaving in circuit only thegroup of lights connected through the terminal 19. Obviously by variousother arrangements ci' switch terminals in chamber 21, and correspondingalterations in the shape and arrangement of the switch blades in thischamber, various other combinations ot lights may be made to suit theneedsov the particular installation. f I

' While any suitable switch mechanism may be employed to accomplish theresult obtained,- I have shown in the present application ot myinvention a novel arrangement A whichiis both compact and efficient. Theswitch mechanisms of both chambers are .alike and it suilices todescribe the construction swith'relation to only one. In its gen--V eralform the switch is of the push button typewith spiral drive. Theconnection between the ratchet sleeve 38 and the switch spindle 39,however, in the present construction, comprises certain features ofnovelty." The ratchet sleeve, which as usual is provided with spiralgrooves 40, engaged by the threads .41 in the reciprocating push button42, carries at its lower end a ratchet 43 which may be formed in onetherewith' by 4cutting the ratchet teeth from a periph; eral flange atthe end of the sleeve. Fast on the spindle 39 is mounted a disk 44 havinat one side a raised marginal flange 45. djacent the oppositemargin ofthe rdisk is pivoted' at 46 a dog 47, the' nose of which engages theratchet teeth 43 of 'the sleeve 38. The dog is held in engagement withthe ratchet 43 Iby means of a leaf spring 48 bearing against one end ofthe dog and lying at its other end against the raised flange 45 on thedisk 44. A tongue 49, adiacent one end of the spring, passes through ahole 5() in the disk and is turned over beneath the latter, thusanchoring the spring in position on the disk. A group 4ofdownwardly/projecting tongues 51 are'struck from the body of the diskand afford means for engaging the upper end 52 of the switch spring53which extends between the'disk and 'the plate 54 which carries theswitch blades. The usual. cam 55 on the spindle shifts the detent56 outof engagement with the stop plate 57 in well understood manner. The stopplate 57,. for each switch, is secured to a common base plate 58arranged in the bottom of the receptacle and secured l pierce the bottomof the receptacle and take against displacement under the action of theseveral switch blades. A similar construction is employed for thecombined switch terminals 32 and 31 in the opposite wall Qt thereceptacle, a seating recess 63 being provided for this purpose.

Various modification of construction will readily, occur tothose skilledin the art without departing from what I claim is my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. An electric switch device, comprising acup-shaped insulating receptacle, a yoke piece extending across the topthereof, a pair of switches mounted in series within the receptacle,independent push buttons for actuating the switches and guide pinsextendingat right angles to the yoke piece and arrangedv lengthwisethereof on opposite sides of each f push button.

2. An electric switch device, comprising a cup-shaped insulatingreceptacle adapted to be. mounted within a standard single switch box, apair of `switches mounted within the' receptacle inA series,- a mainline switch terminal for vone of said switches, a plurality of branchline terminals for the other of said switches, together with a switchterminal common to the blades of both switches and serving to connectthe same electrically in series, substantially as described.

3, An' electric switch device, comprising a cupshaped insulatingreceptacle adapted to be mounted within a standardsingle switch box, apair of switches arranged in said receptacle, means for operating theysame independently of each other and conductors serving to connect thesame in series, one of said switches having a terminal for a main lineconnection and being a single pole switch, the other switch havingswitch terminals for a series of lamp circuits and comprising switchmechanism adapted to make various connections with said'terminals insuccessive positions of' the switch, for the purpose described.

4. 'An electric switch device comprising a cup-shaped insulatingreceptacle adapted to be mounted within a standard 'single switch box, apair of independentlyk .operated switches arranged at opposite ends ofsaid receptacle, a main line switch terminal 'for one of said switches,a series of branch 'line terminals for the other of said switches, thelatterihaving means for makingjr various connections with said branchline terminals for the purpose specified, together with a switchterminal common to both switches for connecting the same in series,substantially as described.

5. An velectric switch comprising a cup-l shaped insulating:r receptacleadapted to be mounted within a standard single switch box a pair ofindependently operated main and distributing switches arranged 'atopposite ends of the receptacle, wire terminals mounted at more than twoof the corners of the receptacle, a switch contact electricallyconnected to 011e of said wire terminals and (l. W. (oonninon',

H. M. WICHERT.

